Lubrication system and apparatus



Aug. 26, 1952 i,D G. Roos I .UBRICATION SYSTEM AND APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb. 18, 1947 I Il Allg 26, 1952 D. G. Roos 2,608,273

LUBRICATION SYSTEM AND APPARATUS Filed Feb. 18, 1947 5 Shee'Ls-Sheel 2 l 111\ 51 l@ m INVENTOR. e/ffmf E005 MA? MW ATTORNEY Aug.. 26, 1952 r D. G. Roos 2,608,273

LUBRICATION SYSTEM AND .APPARATUS Filed Feb. 18, 1947 3 Sheet's-Shee'?. 3

Transfer Case Oil Level mnentor Ue/maf G, 005

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. )Vn/My AM Patented Aug. 26, 1952 LUBRICATIN SYSTEM AND APPARATUS Delmar G. Roos, Toledo, Ohio, assignor to Willys- Overland Motors, Inc., Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application February 1s, 1947, serial No. 729,223'

3 Claims.

This invention relates to lubrication systems and apparatus and more especially to a method and means for lubricating mechanisms contained within separate housings wherein a supply of lubricant is lmaintained in both housings. In the mechanical organization of certain types of automotive vehicles and more especially those vehicles powered by internal combustion engines and utilizing change speed gearing for conveying power to the drive wheels, the usual changespeed gearingbeing supplemented by mechanism or gearing contained in an independent housing or casing for obtaining additional reduction in drive ratio between the engine and driven road wheels. Constructions of this nature are utilized for heavy duty trucks and four wheel drive vehicles wherein exceptionally low reduction in drive ratio is imperative or desirable. The housings containing the main change-speed gearing and the supplemental gearing are usually disposed adjacent each other, and 'each housing contains a supply of lubri. cant which for satisfactory operation of the gearing must be maintained at a pre-determined heighth or level in each housing. In many change-speed gear arrangements of this nature, the gearing is so arranged that the lubricant levels in the respective gear housings must be maintained at different heighths in order to provide satisfactory lubrication. In constructions of this nature, difficultieshave been encountered in maintaining differential levels of lubricantl in the housings as lubricant seeps or flows by gravity through the journals or bearings from the transmission having the higher level of lubricant into the other housing. Thus after a period of time, the levels of lubricant in two housings would tend to become equalized which would result in insufcient lubricant for one set of change-speed gearing and an over supply of lubricant for the other set of gearing.r

One of the objects of this invention is the maintenance of different levels of lubricant in adjacent chambers or housings.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a passage associated with gearing contained in one housing for replenishing the supply .of lubricant in an adjacent housing.

Another object of the invention resides in a method of transferring lubricant from one housing to another wherein the arrangement of gearing in one housing is disposed in cooperative association with alubricant conveying duct'or passage in such a manner that therotaton of the gearing transfers the lubricant to the housing having a higher lubricant level inr conjuncfmunication between adjacent housings or chambers wherein a transfer of liquid is being effected, said venting means providing for the equalization of pressures in said housings.

Further objects and advantages are within the scope of this invention such as relate to the arrangement, operiation and function of the related elements ofthe structure, to various details of construction and to combinations of parts, elements per se, and to economies of manufacture and numerous other features as will'be apparent from a consideration of the specification and drawing of aform fofthe invention, which may be preferred, in which:

Figure 1 is atop planview of main and supplementary transmission mechanisms for an automotive vehicle showing the arrangement and association in assembled relationship;

Figure2 is a partial vertical sectional View taken substantially on theline 2-2 o'f Figure 1 with part of a housing wall broken away;

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical sectional'view taken substantially on the line 3*-3 of Figure'l;

Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on the line 4--4 of Figure 2; p

Fgure is an'elevational view illustrating one form of uid conveying passage or duct, and

Figure 6 is an end view of the arrangement disclosed in Figure 5.

'.WhileI have illustrated an arrangement of method and apparatus of my invention as applied to andincorporated in transmission gearing for automotive vehicles and especially trucks or four wheel drive vehicles wherein extremely low gear reduction is desirable, it is to begunderstood that the system and apparatus of my invention may be utilized with any mechanisms wherein it is desirableor essential tormaintain asoaeve different levels of fiuid in adjacent housings or chambers.

Referring to the drawings in detail, I have illustrated one form of the lubricating system and apparatus as embodied in power transmission gearing mechanisms especially adapted for securing comparatively low gear reductions for the drive road wheels of a four wheel drive wherein the transmission of power may be established to both front and rear wheels. In the embodiment illustrated, there is provided a main housing I enclosing the main transmission gearing, the housing I0 having at its forward end a ange I I adapted to be secured to a clutch housing (not shown) the clutch mechanism being adapted to transmit power from an internal combustion engine or other source of power (not shown). The housing I0 is provided at its rear portion with a similar flange I2 which mates with a flange I4 formed integrally on a supplemental transmission housing or chamber I 5. The main and supplemental housings are xedly secured in adjacent relation by suitable securing means, for example, bolts I1. The supplemental housing I5 encloses and supports auxiliary or supplemental transmission gearing for securing drive ratios in addition to those that may be attained through the sole use of the main transmission gearing contained in the housing I0. The supplemental housing I 5 and the mechanism contained therein forms an auxiliary unit which is sometimes referred to as a transfer case.

The transmission housing I0 is provided with a forward wall I8 and a rear wall I9 which form a chamber arranged to contain a supply of lubrieant indicated at 20, the wall I9 separating the main transmission housing I0 from the sup'- plemental housing I5. The supplemental housing or transfer case unit I5 is also arrangedto contain a supply of lubricant indicated at 2| the level of which is normally lower than the level of lubricant contained in the main transmission housing I0. The normal level of lubricant in the main transmission housing is indicated at 23 while the normal level of lubricant in the supplemental housing is indicated at 24, as shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4.

The vehicle engine or other source of power is connected through suitable clutch mechanism (not shown) with a shaft 26 which extends within the main transmission housing I9 and is integrally formed with a gear 28. The interior of the gear portion 28 formed on the shaft is provided with a chamber 'to receive the forward extremity of a driven shaft 29, the portion of the shaft extending into the chamber being 'mounted in needle bearings 30, while the rear portion of shaft 29 is journaled in a suitable anti-friction or ball bearing 25.

The 'gear 28 is in mesh with a driven gear 3|, the latter forming a part of a reduction gear cluster unit 21 which is journaled for rotation upon a supplemental shaft 32. The gear SI is of larger diameter than the gear 28 'so that the cluster gear unit rotates ata lower speed than that of gear 28 and shaft 26. The cluster gear unit 21 is inclusive of a Vgear 33 which is in constant mesh with a gear 34, the latter being journaled for independent rotation upon an intermediate portion of shaft 29. The portion of shaft 26 adjacent gear 28 is formed with a toothed portion 31 and the gear 34 is integrally formed with a similarly shaped toothed portion 38. Normally disposed between the toothed portions 31 and 38 is a longitudinally slidable dental clutch member 49 which is adapted to be selectively connected with either of the toothed portions 31 and 38 for establishing a drive connection on the shaft 29. Thus, when the dental clutch member 40 is moved to the left as viewed in Figure 4, the internal teeth (not shown) formed upon member 48 interengage with teeth 31 to establish a direct drive connection from shaft 25 to shaft 29. When the dental clutch member 49 is shifted to its extreme right position to bring the teeth thereof into engagement with the teeth 38 formed on one side of gear 34, a drive is established to shaft 29 through gears 28, 3|, 33 and 34. In this latter manner, a drive established to shaft 29 is at a lower speed than that of shaft 26 through the medium of the gearing above mentioned, which is conventionally known as sec- 0nd speed drive. A gear synchronizer for facilitating interenmeshment or engagement of the teeth on dental clutch 49 with either of the toothed portions 31 and 39 is associated with the dental clutch 49. This synchronizer device is of conventional type and is not therefore shown in detail in the drawings.

Also integrally formed with cluster gear unit 21 is a comparatively small diameter gear 43. The shaft 29 is formed with a splined portion 45 upon which is slidably mounted a gear 45. When the gear 46 is moved toward a left hand direction as viewed in Figure 4 to bring the teeth thereof into enmeshment with the teeth of gear 43, a drive is established through gears 28, 3|, 43 and 4G to the shaft 29, which provides the socalled conventional low speed drive." The cluster gear 21 is also formed with a comparatively small diameter gear 48 which meshes with an idler gear (not shown) journaled upon a suitable stub shaft (not shown) disposed within the transmission housing I9. When gear 45 is moved to an extremeright hand position as viewed in Figure 4, the gear 45 enmeshes with the idler gea-r (not shown) to establish a drive for shaft 29 in a reverse direction of rotation with respect to the drive shaft 26.

Means are provided for moving the dental clutch member 40 and gear 45 for the purposes of effecting changes in gear ratios. The dental clutch member 40 is formed with an annular recess 5I into which projects a bifurcated or forked shifter element 52 having a tenon portion mounted in a boss 53. The boss or member 53 is mounted upon a shaft 55 which extends interiorly of the housing and is adapted to be rotated by suitable control means (not shown) to shift the dental clutch member 40 to itsgselected positions. The gear construction 46 is formed at one side with an annularV recess 51 which is adapted to receive and accommodate a forked or bifurcated gear shifting member 58 the latter being provided with a tenon, 59 mountedin a member 60. The member 60 is associated with a shaft 6I which extends exteriorly of the housing I9 and is adapted to be rotated by suitable control means (not shown) to shift the position of gear 45 to obtain low gear ratio and reverse gear drive in a conventional manner. y i

The shaft 29 has a portion 64 extending beyond the bearing 25 into the supplemental housing or transfer case I5. The portion 64 of the shaft 29 is splined to receive a spur gear65 adapted to be driven and rotated by the shaft. The gear 64 is held in place on the shaft by means of a securing nut 66. Extending across the supplemental housing I5 is an intermediate or layshaft G8 which Iis secured in fixed position by means of a locking plate 69 and a securing screw 10 as shown in Figure l. Journaled upon the lay'shaft 68 is a gear cluster 1| which includes in integral formation a gear 12 in mesh with the teeth of gear 65, the cluster including a second gear- `'I3 which is of lesser diameter than gear 12. Also disposed within the supplemental housing I is a -shaft which is journaled in suitablerantifriction bearings 16 preferably of the tapered roller type mounted in a wall of thev supplemental housing I5 as shown in Figure `1.v The member 11 extending forwardly of the housing |5 is formed with a flange 18 which mates with a suitable boss portion on the housing |5 and is secured thereto by means of securingl bolts 19. VA gear 82 is journaled for rotation on shaftv15 andis in constant mesh with intermediate gear 12. It should be noted that gears 65, 12 and 82 are always in mesh and whenevershaft 29 is rotated these gears are also rotated by the shaft. Journaled on suitable ball bearings 84.and arranged in axial alignment with shaft 15 is a stub shaft 86 which is formed with a toothed portion 81 which is adapted to be engaged with a dental clutch portion 88 for connecting the stub-shaft 86 to the shaft 15. Mounted upon the stub shaft 86 is a coupling member 89 which is adapted to be connected to another coupling member and mechanism (not shown) for establishing a drive connection to the front wheels of the vehicle.

Means are provided for shifting the dental clutch member 88 for establishing a drive to the front wheels. To this end the dental clutch ymember 88 is provided with an annular recess into which projects a clutch shifting fork or element 92 which is suitably supported upon a rod or shaft 93arranged for slidable movement in a direction axially of shaft 15. The shaft 93 projects exteriorly of member or extension 114 and is formed with a rectangular notch or. recess .94 adapted to receive a projection oriflnger 95 integrally formed as a part of a control .lever 96 for actuating rod 93 and shift fork 92 to 4establish or disestablish a drive connection through .the transmission gearingto the front wheels. The lever 98 is pivotallysupported upon a shaft 91 which is carried in a forwardly extending bracket portion 98 integrally formed upon the member 11.

The shaft 15 is provided with a splined portion |0| upon which is slidably mounted gear |02 which is of a larger diameter than gear 13 and which is adapted to beengaged with gear 13 through. longitudinal movement on the splined portion |0| of shaft: 15.

The shaft 15 extends rearwardly of the transfer case or housing |5 and supports an element |04 forming part of a coupling which is con- .nected to a drive shaft (not shown) for transmitting power through the transmission gearing and transfer case mechanism to the rear wheels of the vehicle.

Means are provided for shifting the gear |02 along the splined portion |0| of shaft 15 so as to provide for a variation in ratio of power transmissionto the vehicle'wheels. To this end, gear f |02 is provided with a laterally extending portion formed with an annular recess |06 into .which extends a bifurcated member |01 formed with a boss portion |08. vThe boss portion |08 is bored to be received or mounted upon. a shaft |09, the latter being arranged for longitudinal slidable movement parallel with the axis of shaft 15. The rod or shaft |09 projects forwardlyof member 11 and is provided with a kerf or. recess ||0. Mounted upon shaft 91 is a lever hav- 6 inga depending portion ||2 fitting into the recess or kerf-AI |0in shaft |09. Thus by pivotal movement `of lever ||0 about the axis of shaft 91, the rod |09 may be f moved longitudinallyv to shift the'position'of gear |02. l'` I f yWhen the Egear |02 is in mesh with rgear y13 as shownin Figure 1, a'low gear ratio is established for` the transmission of power through the transfer v'case gearing to the shaft 15 and thence"Y to the vehicle wheelsz. The standard ratios of power transmission obtainable by the 'gearing contained in the vmain .transmission housing |0 may be transmitted through shaft 15fto the vehicle wheels by moving the gear- |02 along the splined portion-IBI until dental clutch teeth `or internall teeth formed on gear |02 take overfor engage dental clutch teeth 4 formed ongear 82. 'In this position ther shaft 15 is connected-.through the splines |0| and the dental latter-'fbeing indicatedv at 24. t The present invention includes a methodland means for maintaining the lproper-lubricant levelsin the `main and supplemental -transmissionhousings.r f-Inf 'the embodimentof -the invention illustratedin the drawings, the lubricant level'in the main transmission housing I0 is above the level of lubricant in thesupp'lementalhousing l5, and in order to maintainthelubricant at the higher level in one of the housingsrits. supply. is replenished by conveying lubricant kfrom the supply of the lower level'. ffIhe lubricantsupply at the higher lever is maintained at such level through the provision of a passage orductl I6 for permitting flowy of lubricant from housing I0 into housing |5 when the' level 'of lubricant in housing |0 rises above "the-duct or opening ||6.

The 'arrangement or method of conveying ythrough-the pumping action of the rotating gearing contained in the transfer case in collaboration with. a. lubricant conveying channel or passage establishing communication'between housings |0 .and I5. e WOne embodiment of. thelubricant kconveying means is illustrated in Figures 3, 5 and 6.l VIn this form, ashroudy or lubricant guide 'H8 is'formed with anupper wall I9 and side wall portions |20 and |2|, the latter'being astraddle upper portions of vgears 12 and 82 as more particularly The wall portion ||9 terminates at its lower end in a lip |22 adapted'to be secured to the wall of the transfer case or supple- `mental housing by means of a bolt |23, while thef ,upper extremity of walll |9 terminates in a portion |24 which is secured to the transfer case or housing by means of a bolt |25.V The upper .wallgportion ||9 and side portions ,|20 and `|2| of. the` shroud. form a lubricant collecting zone ZSA-rtheflubricant being moved to this zone by the rotational movement of gears 12l and 82 in cooperation with the lubricant guide |I8. A tube or passage |28 establishes communication between the main and supplemental housings so that lubricant-, is conveyed from one housing tothe other. As shown in Figures 3, 5 and 6 this lubricant conveying means is in the form of a tube |28 which is joined with a fitting |29 formed on the shroud ||8, the upper end |30 of the tube being congurated to project through an opening |3 which also forms a suitable vent between the main and supplemental transmission housings to facilitate the equalization of atmospheric pressure between the housings. Other venting means may be provided in the form of an opening |33, if desired. From examination of Figure 3 it will be seen that rotation of gears '|2 and 82 in the directionsindicated by the arrows moves lubricant to the zone |26, the gear teeth acting as a pumping medium forces lubricant through the passage |28 from the lubricant supply in the transfer case I5v into the main transmission housing |U so as to provide a means for replenishing the lubricant at the higher level in housing whenever the transmission is in operation.

As illustrated in Figure 4 there is an opening |35 disposed adjacent and above the channel or opening ||6 and of larger diameter. It has been found under certain conditions that considerable froth of the lubricant may be set up in the transmission housing |0 b-y reason of the rapid rotation of the gearing and the larger opening |35 is for the purpose of facilitating rapid disposition -oi frothing lubricant to move from the main transmission housing I0 into the transfer case I5. By this means the actual level of lubricant in housing I0 is prevented from rising to an undue level which may occurunder the continuous iiow of lubricant through channel |28 from the lubricant supply in the transfer case I during operation of the mechanism. If too much lubricant flows from housing I5 into housing I0, the llubricant level in the supplemental housing or transfer case l5 may be lowered so that insufficient lubrication of the gearing in housing |5 might result. The larger opening |35 eliminates the possibility of an excessive rise of lubricant level in the main transmission housing.

While I have illustrated one embodiment of method and apparatus for conveying lubricant from one housing to another, it is to be understood that I do not wish my invention to be limited to the specific disclosure, but that I contemplate broadly the method of utilizing the pumping action of rotating gearing in one housing in collaboration with a lubricant transferring channel or passage leading to another housing from a zone in which lubricant is conveyed by gearing so as to establish a iiow of lubricant from one.A housing to another. through the anangement of my invention lubricant may be conveyed from a source of supply in one housing `at one lubricant level to an adjacent housing in which lubricant is Vmaintained at a different levelv and adequate lubrication of mechanism in both housings is obtained without the utilization of extraneous lubricant pumps and the like'. Furthermore the arrangement of vent opening and lubricant passages provide for the maintenance of the proper level of lubricant in 'both housings and for equalization of pressure within the housings.

It is apparent that, within the scope of the invention, modiiications and different arrangements may be made other` than is herein disclosed and the present disclosure is illustrative merely, lthe invention comprehending all Variation thereof.

WhatIclaim is: Y

1. In combination, a main housingv adaptedk to It will be seen that enclose mechanism including change speed gearing for an automotive vehicle; a supplemental casing secured to said main housing; one of said housings having a wall forming a partition betweensaid housings; supplemental change speed mechanism contained in the supplemental housing and :including a pair of interenmeshing gears driven by mechanism contained in said main housing; each of said housings adapted to contain liquid lubricant; a passage between said housings through which liquid lubricant may be transferred from the supplemental to the main housing; means partially surrounding the pair of interenmeshing gears in said supplemental housing forming a chamber adapted to be filled with liquid lubricant by rotation of said pair of gears from the supply of lubricant in the supplemental housing, said chamber being in communication with said passage for directing flow of lubricant therethrough by pumping pressure set up byv said .pair of rotating gears, and a second passage in said partition spaced from said first mentioned passage through which lubricant may flow by gravity from said main housing to said supplemental housing for determining the lubricant level in said main housing.

2. A system for lubricating power transmission mechanism including a main transmission housing; a supplemental transmission housing secured'to said main housing and including a wall 'disposed between said` main and supplemental housing; power transmission mechanism contained in each of said housings; the power transmission mechanism in said' supplemental housing including a pair of interenmeshing gears; both of said housings adapted to contain a supply of liquid lubricant; a lubricant passage formed in the wall between said housings for predetermining the lubricant level in said main housing Vat a higher level than that in the supplemental housing; a shroud positioned adjacent and partially surrounding the pairof interenmeshing gears in said supplemental housing; a lubricant conveying duct connecting said shroud lwith said :main-housing; said pair of gears being adapted for rotation in a direction to direct liquid lubricant from the supply in said supplemental housing through said duct to said main housing, and an air Vent opening formed in the wall between said housings for equalizing the air pressure in said housings.

3. A lubricant system for power transmission gearing including a main housing; a supplemental housing secured thereto; one of said housings -having a wall disposed between the housings; power transmission mechanism contained in said housings, the power transmission mechanism in said .supplemental housing including a pair of interenmeshing gears driven by the power transmission mechanism contained in said main housing; each of said housings adapted to contain a supply of liquid lubricant normally at respectively difierent levels in said housings; said wall -being formed with a passage whereby lubricant :may iiow by gravityfrom said main .housing to the supplementalv housing to establish the lubricant :level inf said mainy housing; a ,secfond lubricant passage of larger dimension formed .in Athe wall between said housings and disposed `at .a higher level than the first mentioned, passage; means partially enclosing the 9 chamber formed by said gear enclosing means and the main housing whereby the rotation of the pair of gears directs lubricant from said chamber through said third mentioned passage to the main housing from the lubricant supply in the supplemental housing.

DELMAR G. ROOS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

Number 10 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Salenus Nov. 26, 1912 Cooper Nov. 13, 1917 Tresslar June 11, 1918 Seaholm Nov. 28, 1922 Belden June 26, 1923 Ahlm July 16, 1929 White May 17, 1932 Pomeroy Mar. 7, 1935 Barnes Jan. 7, 1936 Strehlow June 3, 1941 

